J LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 5 

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J UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, j 



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I N H E AV EN; 



AS INTERPRETED BY MEANS OF 



GOSPEL ZEJQ/UIV-^LIEIISrTS, 



ACCORDING TO THE 



PRINCIPLES OF SCRIPTURAL ALGEBRA, 



BY HENRY HOUSEWORTH, 



AUTHOR OP THE "FEDERURBIAN SCHOOL BOOK8," AND "THE DAWN OF REVELATION UNVEILED." 






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Printed and Bound for the Author by the 

ELM STREET PRINTING CO., 176 ELM ST, 

1868. 



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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by 
HENRY DEIOTTSE^WOI^TII, 
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, 
for the Southern District of Ohio. 



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CONTENTS, 



CHAPTER L 

Page 
Another Wonder in Heaven 11 

CHAPTER II. 
The Two Witnesses 24 

CHAPTER III. 
The Four Livinq Creatures 30 

CHAPTER IV. 
The Seven Seals 49 

CHAPTER V. 
The Last Seven Plagues 83 

Conclusion.. 109 



CIRCULAR. 



»»<•>»» 



To all) who fear God and work righteous- 
ness, the author sendeth greeting. 

Dearly Beloved: 

I present you a treatise on "The 
Last Seven Plagues/' entitled * Another Won- 
der in Heaven," It issues from the press 
unattended with the banner of any religious 
denomination. This fact, and the subject of. 
which it treats, make it a lone and solitary 
stranger. A stranger it acknowledges itself 
to be, but not an alien or an enemy. For it 
professes to belong to the fellow citizens of the 
saints, and of the household of God. You 
know your duty to strangers. " Be not forget- 
ful to entertain strangers, for some have enter- 



VI CIRCULAR. 

tained angels unawares. And he that giveth 
a cup of cold water to a disciple shall not 
lose his reward. Prove all things, and hold 
fast that which is good." 

This book is the result of a dream, which, 
about eight years ago, excited a curiosity to in- 
vestigate the book of Revelation by means of 
gospel equivalents. The interpretation cor- 
responds with the nature of the dream. And 
all parts of ihe dream have been fulfilled ex- 
cept the last, which is the reward of so pro- 
tracted an effort under discouraging circum- 
stances. The opportunity to revise and pre- 
pare the manuscript for the press was afforded 
during the lonely hours of night, while watch- 
ing at the bedside of an afflicted child, who 
was returned to her paternal roof despairing 
of conjugal felicity and every other human 
joy. The profits of this book, if any, will be 
devoted (as long as shall be necessary) to cheer 
her in her earthly pilgrimage. A word to the 
wise is sufficient. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The primary object of writing this book is to 
verify the declaration of Scripture which saith : 
"The testimony of the Lord is sure, making 
wise the simple." To show that it is sure in 
its interpretation as well as in the fulfillment 
of prophecy. To show that the interpretation 
of Scripture is capable of being reduced to a 
mathematical certainty. 

The object is also to show that all Scripture, 
given by inspiration of God, is profitable. 
That a special blessing is conferred by reading, 
hearing, and keeping the words recorded in 
the book of Kevelation. And that that book 
is not a sealed book, but whoever discards it 
as useless, is calling that a mystery which God 



Vlll INTRODUCTION. 

calls a revelation, and is also, by his example, 
disobeying the command given to John, name- 
ly: "Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of 
this book." And whoever puts obstructions 
in the way of any one who labors by his time, 
and means to show the utility of that book, is 
disobeying the command: "Bear ye one 
another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of 
Christ." 

Let us follow the example of the Bereans, 
who searched the Scriptures to see if these 
things were so. Because it is written in Dan. 
xii. 4 : " Many shall run to and fro, and knowl- 
edge shall be increased." 

Nor have we reason to suppose that that 
prophecy is entirely fulfilled in the increase of 
those natural sciences which chiefly promote 
bodily ease and enjoyment. For it is also 
written in Jeremiah xxxi. 34 : " And they shall 
teach no more every man his neighbor, 
and every man his brother, saying: "Know 
the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the 
least of them unto the greatest of them, saith 
the Lord." All prophecies of Scripture must 



INTRODUCTION. ix 

be fulfilled. And it is recorded in Rev. x. 7 : 
" But in the days of the voice of the seventh 
angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mys- 
tery of God should be finished, as he has de- 
clared to his servants the prophets." And it is 
maintained that this auspicious day is now 
dawning upon the Christian world. 



CHAPTER L 

ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

" And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, 
seven angels having the seven last plagues ; for in them is 
filled up the wrath of God."— Rev. xv. 1. 

Another implies one or more previous to it. 
Accordingly, I find that there are other signs 
or wonders mentioned in Rev. xii. For the 
same word in the Greek is variously rendered 
sign or wonder. The first is the woman clothed 
with the sun. And the second is the great 
red dragon. And that we may have a better 
understanding of the third, which is the chief 
subject of this treatise, I will briefly interpret 



12 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

the first and second in the order in which they 
occur. The first mentioned is in Kev. xii. 1 : 
"And there appeared a great wonder in 
heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and 
the moon under her feet, and upon her head a 
crown of twelve stars." The solution of this 
figure, according to the algebraic application 
of gospel equivalents, makes it represent the 
church of Christ arrayed as the bride adorned 
for her husband with the Mosaic dispensation 
upon which to stand, and the gospel radiating 
its light from her person, as the sun shineth in 
his glory, and the teachings of the twelve 
apostles as bright stars to illuminate her crown 
of glory. 

In elucidating the figure — a woman clothed 
with the sun, it will be necessary to ascertain 
what is meant by the word sun. It is recorded 
in Mai. iv. 2 : " But unto you that fear my name 
shall the Sun of righteousness arise with heal- 
ing in his wings." This is generally understood 
to refer to Christ. The phrase " of righteous- 
ness " is only explanatory, and does not alter 
the meaning. The comparison of Christ to the 



ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 13 

sun is also shown by his transfiguration recorded 
in Matt. xvii. 2 ; " And his face did shine as the 
sun, and his raiment was white as the light" 
And this agrees, also, with the description 
given of him recorded in Kev. i. 16, "and his 
countenance was as the sun shineth in his 
strength." From this scriptural testimony, I 
suppose it will be seen that Christ is equiva- 
lent to sun, and the words Christ and sun may 
be substituted for each other, whenever addi- 
tional clearness of idea will result from the 
operation. And, therefore, to be clothed with 
the sun is equivalent to being clothed with the 
sun of righteousness, with the robe of Christ's 
righteousness, or with Christ himself. Accord- 
ing as it is written: They that are baptized 
into Christ have put on Christ. To put on de- 
notes the act of clothing, or being clothed. 
The next unknown figure to be ascertained is 
the word moon, which was under her feet I 
have already shown that Christ was the sun 
or sun of righteousness. It becomes now nec- 
essary to find another gospel equivalent for 
sun or Christ, which will bear a superior rela- 



14 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

tloii to the unknown value or signification of 
moon. And the equivalent necessary to solve 
the next unknown signification will prove to 
be the gospel, which is shown to be equivalent 
to Christ. Because to preach Christ is to 
preach the gospel. It is recorded in John i. 17 : 
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace 
and truth came by Jesus Christ." For the pres- 
ent I shall assume that the phrase "grace and 
truth" are equivalent to the word gospel. If so, 
the algebraic substitution of the word gospel 
for the phrase "grace and truth," we have a 
new declaration, the law was given by Moses, 
but the gospel came by Jesus Christ. And it 
is obvious that the law given by Moses was the 
next inferior dispensation to the gospel. It 
then bears the same relation to the gospel as 
the moon in the natural world does to the sun. 
The moon, then, that was under her feet was 
the law of Moses. 

But that this substitution of equivalents shall 
not merely rest on the assumption that the 
phrase " grace and truth n is equivalent to the 
word gospel, I shall endeavor to prove that the 



ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 15 

phrase means exactly the gospel — nothing 
more and nothing less. In algebraic language 
grace and truth may be considered bound to- 
gether by a vinculum. For the signification 
of the two words must be combined. And 
hence the declaration becomes true, that truth 
is all the word of God, but grace and truth is 
only a part of it, which may be seen thus : A 
noun without an article, or other restrictive 
word or phrase to limit it, is generally taken in 
its widest sense. A candid temper is proper 
for man, that is all mankind. A man is any 
man, but only one man taken without distinc- 
tion from the mass. A man of learning is one 
man, who mav be selected from all the learned 
class, which is more limited. A man of learn- 
ing and piety must be selected from the learned 
and pious, which still restricts and diminishes 
the class. So, also, grace and truth, are so much 
of truth or of the word of God as is a grace 
or favor, and includes only the gospel. For 
the law given to Adam was not a favor, but the 
natural result of his relation to his Creator. 



16 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

But the gospel was a favor purchased by the 
blood of Christ. 

I have asserted that truth is all the word of 
God. For it is written in John xvii. 17 : " Sanc- 
tify them through thy truth : thy word is truth. 
Thy word is all the word of God, a part of 
which is a favor, and a part not. It, therefore, 
becomes necessary to substract law at his 
mouth: "For he is the messenger of the Lord of 
hosts." — Mai. ii. 7. A pastor is the priest of the 
gospel dispensation, and a messenger is an 
angel. Things that are equal to the same are 
equal to each other. Therefore, th& seven 
angels are the pastors of the seven churches 
of Asia. 

"Which stood before God." The seven stars 
are represented to be held in Christ's right 
hand. He is represented as standing at the 
golden altar before the throne* And, more- 
over, Christ is represented in Rev. i. 13, as 
being in the midst of the seven golden candle- 
sticks. And in verse twentieth, the seven can- 
dle sticks are declared to be the seven churches. 
A pastor's business and duties are with his 



ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 17 

flock or church. And if Christ was in the 
midst of the golden candlesticks, and his place 
was at the golden altar before the throne, and 
the seven stars were in his right hand, they, 
also, must be situated before the throne of God 

" And to them were given seven trumpets." 
The trumpet is an instrument of publication or 
proclamation; as is also a book. They are, 
therefore, equivalents. The seven trumpets 
are the seven copies of the book of Revela- 
tion, which John was commanded to write and 
send to the churches of Asia. According as it 
is written, " What thou seest, write in a book 
and send it unto the seven churches which are in 
Asia." — Rev. i. 11. They were to declare the con- 
tents of the book, like as if they proclaimed 
them with a trumpet. According as it is 
written in Isa. lviii. 1 ; u Cry aloud, spare not, 
lift up thy voice as a trumpet, and show my 
people their transgression, and the house of 
Jacob their sins." 

Rev. viiL 3 : " And another angel came and 
stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and 
there was given unto him much incense, that he 



18 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

should offer it with the prayers of all saints 
upon the golden altar which was before the 
throne." The golden censer, golden altar, and 
the incense with the prayers of all saints are 
the names of things and persons in both the 
Old and New Testaments. They, therefore, 
need not be solved by gospel equivalents, or 
take from the whole word of God so much as 
is not a favor or grace, in order to make the 
remainder a favor or grace. But if a part were 
taken away, what remains must be less than 
the whole before any was taken therefrom. 
Therefore, grace and truth combined must be 
less than truth alone. And this combination 
is nothing else than the gospel. For the gos- 
pel is a favor, and the chief part of the truth 
or word of God. Because all other parts were 
written to substantiate and enforce its princi- 
ples and duties. 

Now the gospel is compared with law given 
by Moses. But I have shown that Christ is the 
sun of righteousness, and to preach Christ is to 
preach the gospel. Therefore, the sun of right- 
eousness or the gospel is compared to the law 



ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 19 

of Moses, and is greater than it. Now, the 
next inferior light to the sun in the natural 
world is the moon, which, therefore, represents 
the law of Moses. And if Christ or the gos- 
pel is the sun, and the law of Moses is the 
moon, the teachings of the twelve apostles are 
the stars which adorn the head of the woman 
clothed with the sun. She is the Lamb's wife, 
the Christian Church, prepared as a bride 
adorned for her husband. Her husband is king 
of kings, and lord of lords. She must, there- 
fore, wear a crown. But of what is her crown 
composed. The moon or the Mosaic dispensa- 
tion is the foundation upon which she stands. 
For the church is built upon the foundation of 
the apostles and prophets — Jesus Christ, him- 
self, being the chief corner-stone. The proph- 
ets are included in the Mosaic dispensation, 
which is a foundation beneath her feet. The 
sun, which is the bright apparel of this bride, 
is the gospel as taught by the four evangelists, 
which is proved to be true by the prophecies 
concerning Christ, recorded in the Old Testa- 
ment. And the teachings and recorded prac- 



20 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

tice of the twelve apostles are necessary to 
crown the whole, to make the church a queen 
worthy of her husband and lord. 

As the moon in the natural world receives 
its light from the sun, so, also, the Mosaic dis- 
pensation shines with light reflected from the 
gospel. Moses and Christ were both lawgivers, 
and, as such, were superior to the apostles, who 
were not endowed with that dignity. Yet their 
teachings were bright lights to enlighten what 
would otherwise be comparatively dark and 
obscure in the moral and religious world. 

But it may be asked how can the church, 
which is organized on earth, be called a won- 
der in heaven? To this it is replied that the 
church of Christ is a wonder to the angels of 
heaven and to the inhabitants of earth. For 
it is written, the angels desire to look into it. 
They desire to contemplate the plan of salva- 
tion, and rejoice over one sinner that repent- 
eth. It is also a wonder to the redeemed who 
constitute the kingdom of heaven on earth. 
In other words, it is a wonder in the kingdom 
of heaven or gospel dispensation. According 



ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 21 

as it is written, the kingdom of heaven is at 
hand, meaning the gospel dispensation. For it 
commences on earth, and ends in the glorified 
state of the redeemed in heaven. And as the 
gospel dispensation, the heaven spoken of in 
the text, has its primary organization on earth, 
so, also, it is a wonder to the wicked, both 
angels and men. According as it is written, 
the devils believe and tremble, which is doing 
more than is done by wicked men. For it is 
written in Acts xiii. 41: "Fori work a work 
in your days, a work which ye shall in nowise 
believe, though a man declare it unto you." 
And the Jews are a standing monument of un- 
belief. The organization of the Christian Church 
and the fulfillment of the prophecies concern- 
ing it were too wonderful for their acceptance 
and belief. 

THE SECOND WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

It is recorded in Rev. xii. 3 : "And there ap- 
peared another wonder in heaven ; and behold 
a great red dragon, having seven heads and 
ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads." 



22 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN 

This wonder is two-fold, namely : spiritual and 
temporal. The spirit or soul of this great red 
dragon is Satan himself breathing into, and 
giving life and vigor to a political organization 
among men, which for ages has worked out his 
diabolical purposes. It is wonderful why Satan, 
possessing angelic powers, and seeing the un- 
veiled glory of the Almighty should so far 
forget his duty and interest as to rebel against 
his righteous government. And it is also won- 
derful that in after ages the spirit of evil should 
employ agents, and centralize his power to 
seek conquests from the followers of the Lamb. 
And it is equally due to his malignity and per- 
severance that he should establish his sway to 
so great an extent as to obtain prominent 
places in the earth as the seat of his dominion. 
The Eoman empire, the body wherein dwelt 
the spirit of evil, seated upon the seven-hilled 
city, persecuting the church of the Most High 
was a wonder in many respects. It was terri- 
ble to its enemies in the day of battle, and in 
its infancy magnanimous to its captured ene- 
mies, but unrelenting in its persecutions of 



ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 23 

Christianity. The second wonder exhibits the 
malignity of Paganism and irreligion as op- 
posed to Christianity. It is the wrath of man. 
But the third wonder is greater as it compriseth 
the wrath of God. 

ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

It is recorded in Rev. xv. 1: "And I saw 
another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, 
seven angels having the seven last plagues ; 
for in them is filled up the wrath of God." 
The third wonder in heaven, or in the gospel 
dispensation exhibits God's special protection 
of his church, and his providential care in over- 
ruling the evil passions of men to build up his 
church on earth. It is wonderful that men 
possessing the will and, apparently, the ability 
to defeat some prophecies should be deterred 
from so doing without any apparent constraint. 
And this only exhibits the great power and 
glory of God, in concealing from men so much 
of his purposes as they would be disposed to 
defeat, if they knew them. And, again, it is 
wonderful that he should dictate a book which 



21 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

should be the conclusion of all prophecies, and 
yet only so much of it be understood in differ- 
ent ages of the world as would be conducive 
to his glory and accomplish his designs. 

The last seven plagues is a wonder on many 
accounts. It is a wonder that the book of 
Revelation, which contains an account of them, 
should not be thoroughly understood until they 
are completed. This fact is in accordance with 
the prophecy concerning them. The book 
which contains an account of them is properly 
called a Revelation, and John was commanded 
not to seal the sayings of the prophecy of this 
book. And this book I understand to be that 
little open book which John was told to eat. 
It was, in his mouth, sweet as honey, but after 
it was eaten it was bitter. So men have 
thought this book to be a glowing picture of 
heavenly bliss, but, when fully understood, I 
think it proves to be a lesson of earthly duty, 
and a prophecy of calamity to the human race. 
Like as the temple of the tabernacle of the 
testimony in heaven was opened, and no man 
was able to enter into the temple till the seven 



ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 25 

plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. So, 
also, with the prophecy of the last seven 
plagues fully declared to men ; and all the 
principles of interpretation fully understood; 
no man has heretofore so combined those prin- 
ciples as to make them available to interpret 
that book. And if this interpretation is correct, 
what has baffled the mightiest intellects pos- 
sessing ponderous volumes of theological lore 
and lives of leisure to read them, if the provi- 
dence of God is introduced in a manner that 
appears accidental by wayfaring men, destitute 
of profound biblical attainments? Well may 
the inspired penman designate the last seven 
plagues as another sign or wonder in heaven, 
or the gospel dispensation, great and marvel- 
ous. For in them is filled up the wrath of God. 
For the complete outpouring of the last seven 
plagues constitutes a prophetic epoch in the 
history of the world, because it closes up an 
administration of displeasure and wrath, and 
introduces one of mercy and benignity. 



26 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 



CHAPTER II. 

THE TWO WITNESSES. 

The knowledge which mankind have of the 
last seven plagues is primarily.and chiefly de- 
rived from the word of God, contained in the 
book of Eevelation. For, although it might 
be possible for man, after the accomplishment of 
those plagues upon the inhabitants of the earth, 
to see and acknowledge the dispensation of God 
in those judgments, yet it is highly probable 
they would not have classified them into seven 
divisions, nor have had very clear ideas of their 
design and results. In illustrating the subject, 
therefore, the introductory evidence must be 
chiefly derived from the word of God. But 
the final development of the subject, or the 
identification of the last seven plagues, sever- 
ally, admits of collateral evidence taken from 



THE TWO WITNESSES. 27 

authentic history, whether human or divine. 
There are, therefore, two. witnesses graciously- 
afforded us, so that, by their united testimony, 
every word shall be established. 

These are the two witnesses mentioned in 
Rev. xi. 3, who should prophecy twelve hun- 
dred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. For 
these witnesses are not the Old and New Tes- 
taments, as some suppose. The union of the 
latter constitute the testimony of one witness, 
which is the written word of God. For, as in 
the natural world, day and night constitute one 
legal day, or, as the Scriptures declare, the 
evening and the morning were the first day. 
So, also, the evidence of the brighter light of 
the gospel, and the inferior light of the Mosaic 
dispensation constitute the written testimony 
of one witness. And as the laws of men are 
divided into two kinds, the written and the un- 
written law, so, also, God's will or law to 
man is made known by his written law, or the 
Bible, and by his unwritten law, which is con- 
tained in his works of creation and providence. 
tt For the invisible things of him from the ere- 



28 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

ation of the world are clearly seen, being 
understood by the things that are made, even 
his eternal power and Godhead, so that they 
are without excuse." — Rom. i. 20. Our knowl- 
edge of God's will is derived from the book of 
Inspiration and the book of Providence. The 
book of Inspiration usually affords us the gen- 
eral proposition or truth, which we have to 
carry out in detail. And our minds are as- 
sisted in this effort by the book of Providence, 
which affords us the details, which have to be 
generalized. The agreement of these two 
sources of information is the highest evidence 
attainable by man. For one is the infallible 
teachings of God's word, and the other is the 
undeniable history of the past. 

In referring you to the scriptural authority 
for the use of two witnesses, I will mention, 
first, the one who is spoken of in Rev. i. 5 : 
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful 
witness and the first begotten of the dead." 
To his testimony you will make no objection. 
He is the author and finisher of our faith. 
And as our system of faith is taught in the 



THE TWO WITNESSES. 29 

Scriptures you will receive them as the testi- 
mony of Jesus Christ. Moreover, Christ is de- 
clared to be the Word of God, as we also ac- 
knowledge the Scriptures to be. Therefore, 
the Bible is one of the witnesses, which I sup- 
pose will be received as such accordingly. For 
you may notice that the Scriptures and the 
word of God are equivalent, meaning the same 
book. And as Christ is declared to be the 
word of God, therefore, if Christ is the faithful 
witness, the Scriptures are also ; especially as 
they are his written testimony. And as human 
laws admit oral or spoken testimony, so, also, 
the depositions or written testimony of wit- 
nesses that are absent. 

The other witness, by whose testimony I un- 
dertake to prove the identity of the last seven 
plagues, is the book of Providence, containing 
the designs and will of God, as revealed in his- 
tory. It is recorded in Rom. i. 20: "For the 
invisible things of him from the creation of 
the world are clearly seen, being understood 
by the things that are made, even his eternal 
power and Godhead.' 5 It is also declared,, in 



30 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

Scripture, by their fruits ye shall know them. 
So, also, the reason of human law supposes 
that every intelligent being designs the inevit- 
able consequences of his acts. For if a ra- 
tional man should present a pistol to your breast, 
and demand your money or your life, and, if in 
failing to receive the former, he takes the lat- 
ter, the laws of men presume that he intended 
murder. But this rule of interpreting design 
or intention is not confined to man alone, but 
is true in regard to all intelligence 5, whether 
man, the angelic hosts of light or darkness, 
and, also, in regard to the great Supreme Ruler 
of all intelligences. For it is written, he doeth 
his will among the armies of heaven, and 
among the inhabitants of earth. Now, if we 
can ascertain by any means what God doeth, 
we can also ascertain his will. For he doeth 
his will. It would not, of course, be proper to 
attribute anything to the Supreme Being as 
his work, unless it corresponds with his attri- 
butes of wisdom, justice and benevolence. 

But results corresponding to these attributes 
have been known to proceed from the defeated 



THE TWO WITNESSES. 31 

projects of wicked and malicious men. The 
religious world have not feared to attribute 
such results to God's special Providence. 
These in detail, one after another, have been 
attributed to our benevolent Creator. But 
none, to my knowledge, have seen fit to gen- 
eralize these detached works attributed to God 
as his work, and from them show his design or 
will. Yet such repeated results give as unmis- 
takable evidence of design in the moral world, 
as does the uniformity of the laws of nature 
show God's design in them. I presume what 
is acknowledged to be true in detail, will not 
be denied when combined in a general form. 
So, I conclude, that the works of Providence 
will be allowed as a competent witness, and 
will constitute the second witness by which 
the propositions of this book will be proved. 



32 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 



CHAPTER III. 

THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. 

It is recorded in Rev. xv. 7, 8 : " And one of 
the four beasts gave unto the seven angels 
seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, 
who liveth forever and ever. And the temple 
was filled with smoke from the glory of God, 
and from his power; and no man was able to 
enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of 
the seven angels were fulfilled." * 

The correct identification of the four living 
creatures, as the phrase "the four beasts" 
might more properly be translated, gives the 
proper clew, as I believe, to the unfolding of 
all the mysteries of the book of Revelation. 
For, although it might be possible to have a 
proper understanding of those personages, and 
yet be able to solve but few of the mys- 



THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. 33 

teries of that book. Yet, if they are not cor- 
rectly ascertained, it is, as 1 suppose, impossi- 
ble to have correct views of the figurative ex- 
pressions contained in that book. They hold 
conspicuous stations in the kingdom of heaven 
or gospel dispensation; and may, therefore, be 
supposed to be holy men or holy angels. But 
if it can be proved that they belong to the 
human family, we may reasonably look for 
them in familiar personages, described in in- 
spired or human history. 

These four living creatures appear to be lead- 
ers of, and superior in station to, the four and 
twenty elders. For the latter seem to obey 
their direction. For it is written in Rev. iv. 9 : 
"And when those beasts give glory and honor 
and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who 
liveth forever and ever, the four and twenty 
elders fall down before him that sat on the 
throne, and worship him that liveth forever 
and ever." Their number being four, does not 
allow us to identify them with Peter and Paul, 
individually or collectively, as holding chief 
supremacy in the church, the kingdom of 



34 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

heaven, or the gospel dispensation. Nor do we 
appear authorized to look to the Old Testament 
dispensation for the identification of these per- 
sonages called the four beasts or living crea- 
tures. For it is written in Matt. xi. 9, 11 : " What 
went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say 
unto you, and more than a prophet. Verily I 
say unto you, among them that are born of 
women there hath not risen a greater than 
John the Baptist : notwithstanding, he that is 
least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than 
he." If the four and twenty elders are apos- 
tles and prophets, because the church is built 
on the testimony of the apostles and prophets, 
there would seem to be no other distinguished 
personages left who could occupy so conspic- 
uous a station, unless they were the four evan- 
gelists. These correspond in their number, in 
the equality of their office, and in the superi- 
ority of the station they occupy. And the fig- 
urative description of them, unitedly and sev- 
erally, seems to show the duties and import- 
ance of their social position. 
If the four beasts or living creatures are the 



THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. 35 

four evangelists, the one that gave to the seven 
angels the seven golden vials full of the wrath 
of God, was John the Revelator, who was also 
one of the evangelists. The book of Revela- 
tion asserts that John the Revelator wrote this 
book unto the seven churches of Asia. The 
word angel means messenger. And it is re- 
corded in Mai. ii. 7 : " For the priest's lips should 
keep knowledge. For he is the messenger of 
the Lord of hosts." The gospel equivalent for 
gold is wisdom, and for golden is wise, which 
may be seen in the following manner : Wisdom 
is more precious than rubies, and the gold of 
Ophir can not be compared unto it. Although 
it is said that the gold of Ophir can not be 
compared unto it, nevertheless, by comparison, 
gold is declared to be inferior to it, but is the 
most valuable substance in the material world, 
as wisdom is the most precious in the moral 
and intellectual world. It is, therefore, the 
only equivalent that can be found for wisdom, 
and is used in all the passages of Revelation 
as its equivalent We must, therefore, con- 
clude that the golden vials which contained 



36 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

the seven last plagues were the seven copies 
of the book of Kevelation, dictated by divine 
wisdom, and sent to the seven churches of 
Asia. This book contained the prophecy of 
these plagues, which was sufficient guarantee 
of their fulfillment. The seven pastors of the 
seven churches of Asia may, therefore, be said 
to have received the container of those plagues 
which the vials are, when they received the 
book which contained the prophecy of those 
plagues. For God's word shall not return unto 
him void, but shall accomplish that whereunto 
it was sent. 

But as I have, for the sake of convenience, 
only supposed that the four beasts or living 
creatures were the four evangelists, it becomes 
necessary to produce further evidence in sup- 
port of that opinion. So, then, I undertake, first, 
to prove by the Scriptures that they belong to 
the human family. And, secondly, I shall pro- 
duce the gospel equivalents to exhibit their 
individual characteristics, by which they are 
designated in the Scriptures ; as Matthew, the 
publican or tax-gatherer ; Mark, the brief wri- 



THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. 37 

ter; Luke, the accomplished scholar; and 
John, the bosom companion of our Lord, de- 
scending to the grave in peace. These are 
more sure and certain representations than if 
designated by their names or bodily features. 

That these four beasts or living creatures 
belong to the human family,* is evident from 
Rev. v. 8, 9 : "And when he had taken the 
book, the four beasts and four and twenty 
elders fell down before the Lamb, having every 
one of them harps, and golden vials full of 
odors, which are the prayers of saints. And 
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy 
to take the book, and to open the seal thereof: 
for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to 
God by thy blood out of every kindred, and 
tongue, and people, and nation. 5 ' Christ was 
made under the law, to redeem those who were 
under the law. And we have no account of 
any, but the human race, that have been re- 
deemed. And this is also supported by the 
testimony of Rev. xiv. 3 : " And they sung as it 
were a new song before the throne,, and before 
the four beasts, and the elders ; and no man 



38 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

could learn that song but the hundred and forty 
and four thousand, which were redeemed from 
the earth." From the last testimony it is evi- 
dent that none but the redeemed could learn 
that song ; and from the first testimony, that 
the four beasts or living creatures, and the four 
and twenty elders actually joined in that song. 
The song, in both instances, is called anew 
song, and is, therefore, presumed to be the 
same. It was the song of the redeemed — of 
the four and twenty elders, and of the one hun- 
dred and forty and four thousand, which were 
sealed of all the tribes of the children of Israel, 
and of a great multitude, which no man could 
number of all nations, and kindreds, and peo- 
ple, and tongues, who had come out of great 
tribulation, and had washed their robes, and 
made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 
This new song was, doubtless, joined in con- 
jointly by them all, although the four living 
creatures, and the four and twenty elders, taken 
separately from the rest, may not have been 
of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and 
nation. The four beasts, and the four and 



THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. 39 

twenty elders consequently belonged to the 
human family. Angels could not learn that 
song, for they could not, with propriety, say 
what was not true. For angels were never re- 
deemed. Wicked angels never received, and 
holy angels never needed, redemption. We 
can not, therefore, look for the four beasts or 
living creatures among the angels of light. 
And the angels of darkness have no desire to 
be placed so near the throne of God and the 
Lamb. Now, these four living creatures hold 
a conspicuous part in the kingdom, which is 
represented by the throne and the seats of the 
elders. And, as they belong to the human 
family, we must, consequently, look for them 
among some who have held important offices 
in the kingdom of grace. And, accordingly, 
the four evangelists occupy that position in 
regard to other men. And although I can not 
produce direct Scripture testimony calling 
these four living creatures the four evangelists, 
yet I expect to prove by the established char- 
acteristics of animated nature, by which they 
are represented, and the scriptural usage of the 



40 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

same, that they identically represent the bio- 
graphical characteristics of these four evangel- 
ists, found recorded in the sacred Scriptures. 
And especially do I expect it to be fully appar- 
ent, after quoting numerous passages from the 
writings of these evangelists, which will - prove 
what is set forth on the opening of the four 
seals, when the four beasts or living creatures 
are represented to say, " come and see." For 
it is a remarkable coincidence, that numerous 
passages introduced in their connection with 
the words "come and see" should precisely 
disclose the picture or representation exhibited 
by the opening of the seals, recorded in the 
sixth chapter. This coincidence is very appa- 
rent — is at least beautiful — and to my mind 
affords evidence of inspired design. Nor have 
I, among the numerous individuals to whom I 
have exhibited this coincidence, met a person, 
learned or unlearned, who denied its efficacy 
or beauty. 

The four beasts agree in this particular, 
namely, in having eyes before and behind. 
Eyes denote wisdom ; and before and behind 



THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. 41 

denote the future and the past, Tne four evan- 
gelists agree in the possession and distribution 
of knowledge of future and past transactions. 
History and prophecy are some of the means 
used by the .sacred penmen to diffuse divine 
wisdom. And these are conspicuous in the four 
evangelists. Although all the holy men of God, 
in inditing the sacred Scriptures, spake as they 
were moved by the Holy Ghost ; yet, in so do- 
ing, they did not lose their identity, or distin- 
guishable traits of character. The disciples 
of Christ were called from various pursuits of 
life, and under various circumstances. And in 
their intercourse with . other men, whether in 
speaking or writing, they still retained their 
peculiarities of style or manner. As it is 
recorded, that John came neither eating nor 
drinking, and the Son of man came eating and 
drinking, yet wisdom is justified of her chil- 
dren. So, also, the peculiarities of the four 
evangelists are represented to us under four 
distinct and easy distinguishable traits, namely, 
by imagery taken from the savage and domes- 



42 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

tic state — from the celestial and terrestrial 
spheres. 

" And the first beast was like a lion, and the 
second beast like a calf, and the third beast 
had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was 
like a flying eagle." — Rev. iv. 7. The first 
beast or living creature, therefore, will be Mat- 
thew, who, when he was called to be a disciple, 
was found sitting at the receipt of custom. 
This was the tax-gatherer's or treasurer's office. 
For custom is tax; as we say the custom-house 
at which duties on foreign goods are collected. 
Matthew is repeatedly denominated in the 
Scriptures the publican. He is, therefore, dis- 
tinguished as the servant of the Roman empire 
in the collection of taxes. And as the lion was 
the king of beasts, so, also, the Roman empire 
was king of nations, demanding its tribute, if, 
necessary, by force. And as it is said, ye take 
my life when ye take the means by which I 
live. And the humblest tax-gatherer, in the 
legal discharge of his duty, was virtually sup- 
ported by the entire power of the Roman em- 
pire. For if resistance should be made, sufficient 



THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. 43 

force would be called out to overcome it. 
And no other officer of the Roman empire could 
bear so great a resemblance to the lion, which is 
king of beasts, as would the more humble 
tax-gatherer or publican. 

The second beast or living creature, namely, 
Mark, is represented to us under the figure of a 
calf. It is apparent that brevity and omission 
are distinguishable traits of Mark's style of 
writing, which all good judges would be ready 
to admit. But some might not be willing to ad- 
mit a similar trait in the natural characteristic 
of the calf. Admitting that other animals in 
the natural world skip as well as the calf, yet, 
perhaps, none do so in a more remarkable de- 
gree ; or are as directly so described by the 
pen of inspiration. Be that as it may, it is suf- 
ficient for me to know that that characteristic 
is applied to the calf either by the acknowl- 
edged opinion of men, or by the positive decla- 
ration of Scripture. The substitution of the 
natural equivalent of skipping as a prominent 
characteristic of the calf, for the hasty glancing 
style of Mark's composition, is not the only 



44 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

evidence of his being the second beast or liv- 
ing creature. For it is supported by the col- 
lateral evidence derived from the use of the 
words "come and see' 5 as an index to a subject 
before hidden, but then made known, as will 
be further seen on the opening of the second 
seal. 

The natural idea attached to a calf may be 
in the opinion of some contemptible. Yet this 
is not necessarily the true scriptural idea. 
For we are assisted in our definition of a calf 
by divine inspiration. As it is recorded in 
Psalms xxix. 5, 6 : " The voice of the Lord break- 
eth the cedars of Lebanon ; he maketh them 
also to skip like a calf." So we see that the 
idea attached to the calf is that of skipping. 
And we have often admired the skipping of 
the calf, which shows its agility and strength. 
And as the calf in its vigor skips over the 
ground, so, also, the second evangelist, in his 
haste to introduce us without delay to the im- 
portant design and teachings of Christ, skips 
over the record of his birth and parentage. 
This omission was not essential, as the other 



THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. 15 

evangelists amply illustrated that subject. 
And this may have been done for another rea- 
son, namely, to teach us an important lesson in 
interpreting the Scriptures, which is, that many 
other things were said and done by Christ and 
his disciples, which were not written. So in 
the interpretation of the Scriptures by the 
method herein developed, this rule continually 
presents itself for our consideration. 

The third beast or living creature, which we 
assert to be Luke, is said to have " a face as a 
man." The phrase, " a face as a man," is pecul- 
iarly adapted to express his exalted condition. 
That the natural position of the face of man 
denotes his elevated character, is evident from 
the humility and dejection which is expressed 
by its prostration. As may be seen by its use 
in the Sacred Scriptures ; for we find that others, 
and Christ himself, in times of deepest humil- 
ity and distress, prostrated their faces to the 
ground. To have a face as a man appears to 
us in a two-fold light: First, as superior to 
other living creatures, inasmuch as man is su- 
perior to all animate creation. Secondly, having 



46 * ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

"a face as a man" as a personal trait does 
not make him distinguishable from other men. 
Such apparently opposite personal character- 
istics can not be reconciled in any other evan- 
gelist than Luke. For he was superior to the 
other evangelists in the extent of his acquired 
abilities. He is styled the beloved physician, 
and was, doubtless, versed in medical science. 
And we need no further proof of his literary 
attainments than the original copy of the book 
of Luke. It is known to all Greek scholars 
that the writer of the book of Luke is the only 
evangelist who does not exhibit multiplied 
proofs of their Hebrew origin, as plainly as 
common people of foreign birth exhibit their 
various nationalities ; as a Scotch, German, or 
Irishman may be known by their respective 
peculiarities of words, phrases, or pronuncia- 
tion. So, also, Luke, in being a better Greek 
scholar than the other evangelists, excelled 
them even as " a face as a man " is superior to 
the rest of animated nature. And, at the same 
time, his nationality, or the era of his writings, 
is not discernible by his style, national words, 



THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. 47 

or phrases. The other evangelists, in writing 
the words of inspiration, were not overruled in 
expressing those ideas in their own Hebrew 
dialect of the Greek language. And these cir- 
cumstances afford incontestable proof to Greek 
scholars of all ages and countries, that Mat- 
thew, Mark and John were Hebrews, writing 
near the time of Augustus Cgesar in the Greek 
language. This, at least, establishes their iden- 
tity and nationality, and gives mankind a bet- 
ter opportunity to judge of their truthfulness 
or veracity. And Luke's differing from the 
other evangelists jis rather corroborative of 
their testimony than otherwise, as it forms a 
contrast which can only be accounted for from 
the fact that he was a Gentile, and one of the 
early fruits of the promulgation of the gospel 
to the Gentile world. So, in elucidating the 
glowing figures presented by the Revelator, 
we are obliged to present to our minds and the 
minds of others, who hear or read our elucida- 
tion, some of the most important evidences of 
the genuineness of the gospels, and with them 
of the writings of both the Old and New Test- 



48 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN, 

aments ; for they are all connected, and if the 
gospels are true or false, the other writings of 
the Scriptures stand or fall with them. This, 
alone, is sufficient vindication of the wisdom 
and design of such a figurative representation. 
Truly, it is said, Christ is the power of God and 
the wisdom of God. For such figures are like 
the finger of God, pointing out to us the most 
incontestible evidence of the truthfulness of the 
gospels, and of the whole divine record. 

"And the fourth beast was like a flying 
eagle." It should be noticed that the eagle is 
not here represented to us in its capacity of a 
bird of prey. Therefore, it would be improper 
to identify it with Matthew the publican, or 
any other servant of the Roman empire, 
whether civil, political, or military, but as the 
king of birds, flying loftily in the sky, and ap- 
parently approaching nearer the sun, the ruler 
of day, than any other of the feathered tribe, 
it may well represent the evangelist John. 
For who, during the ministry of our Savior ap- 
proached nearer his person than the beloved 
disciple, who, according to the ancient mode 



THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. 49 

of taking their meals, almost reclined upon his 
bosom. And the resemblance between the 
natural sun and the sun of righteousness will 
not, I suppose, be disputed. For Christ is called 
the true light which lighteth every man that 
cometh into the world. Moreover, the idea at- 
tached in the Scriptures to the flying of an 
eagle is its ability to escape danger. As may 
be seen by consulting its use in Rev. xii. 14: 
" And to the woman were given two wings of a 
great eagle, that she might fly into the wilder- 
ness," which was to her a place of safety. And 
this ability to escape danger was granted to 
the evangelist John, which is not recorded of 
any other. For it is recorded in John xxi. 23 : 
" Yet Jesus said not unto him, he shall not die ; 
but, if I will that he tarry till I come, what is 
that to thee ? " Which is generally understood 
to signify that he should escape the power of 
all persecutions, and die a natural death. 

It is, therefore, maintained that these four 
beasts or living creatures, who hold so con- 
spicuous a station around the throne of the 
kingdom of heaven or gospel dispensation, in 



50 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

their primary interpretation, denote the four 
evangelists personally, and in their secondary, 
their writings or the gospels of our Savior 
Jesus Christ. They are understood to be the 
same as the four angels standing on the four 
corners of the earth, mentioned in Eev. vii. 
But the explanation of that scriptural passage 
comes not within the scope of this presnt treat- 
ise. They are also understood to be the same 
as the four angels bound in the great river- 
Euphrates mentioned in Rev. ix. 14. The elu- 
cidation of which is connected with the out- 
pouring of the sixth vial, in the consideration 
of which some remarks may be made thereon. 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 51 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE SEVEN SEALS. 

It is recorded in Rev. v. i: "And I saw in 
the right hand of him that sat on the throne a 
book, written within and on the back side, 
sealed with seven seals," 

There is a peculiarity attending the interpreta- 
tion of the prophecy in the book of Revelation 
that should be noticed, which is, that the rep- 
resentation is such as an intelligent human 
being might arrive at on contemplating the 
subject retrospectively without the aid of di- 
vine inspiration. This may be termed the 
human aspect of affairs described, or judging 
from appearances. Other parts of Scrip- 
ture more frequently present to us the divine 
aspect of the subject expressed, or the real 
state of the case as viewed by angels or the 



52 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

divine intelligence by tbe light of eternity. 
This difference does not arise from the different 
methods used in the interpretation of the 
Scriptures, but from the different manners in 
which they were written. Both aspects or 
views of inspiration are useful in their differ- 
ent places. And one reason that the divine 
aspect of affairs is more frequently given in 
other parts of the Scriptures may be that the 
human aspect is more easily supplied from 
human sources of knowledge, and is not so 
important in retrospective history. For men 
can easily write the history of the past as they 
understand it. So, also, in prophesying of the 
future, it seems more necessary to describe 
affairs according to appearances, so that when 
the fulfillment takes place, men may the more 
easily discern it. 

The better to illustrate the subject, I will 
briefly announce what book it was that was 
sealed with seven seals, and show the result of 
the seven seals opened, together with the man- 
ner of their opening. The fifth chapter of the 
book of this prophecy represents that the Old 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 53 

Testament, at least in seven particulars, would 
be a perfect failure without the aid of the New. 
That neither men nor angels could fully com- 
prehend its design or utility without the addi- 
tional light, either by direct or reflected illu- 
mination of the New Testament dispensation. 
But with that additional source of comprehen- 
sion, it was an object of rejoicing to all wise 
and good intelligences. Six seals are opened 
in the sixth chapter of the book of this proph- 
ecy, as follows: The first is, that Christ, 
under the most trying and critical circum- 
stances, should give indubitable evidence of 
the purity of his cliaracter, and his resistance 
of all unholy passions, and should manifest 
even while here in the flesh his infinite wis- 
dom and power, and finally overcome death 
and the grave. The second seal opened, dis- 
closes that the Jewish temple should be de- 
stroyed, and its institutions abolished. The 
third seal opened, made it manifest that the 
Roman army was commissioned by the court 
of heaven to destroy the city of Jerusalem, 
under very extraordinary circumstances of war 



54 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

and famine ; but were withheld by the some di- 
vine power from exercising that same cruelty 
upon the early Christians, who were forwarned 
of that calamity, and directed how to escape its 
evils. The fourth seal opened, disclosed the 
exciting cause of the persecution of the Chris- 
tian martyrs, which is briefly summed up in 
their confession that Christ was the Son of God. 
For which confession, also, Christ himself, under 
oath before the Jewish high priest, was con- 
demned to the death of the cross. The open- 
ing of the fifth seal disclosed the fact that the 
martyrs, although so brutally treated by men 
in authority, were held in high favor by the God 
of heaven, who only delayed to execute sum- 
mary vengeance on their murderers, that the 
remnant of his people might be gathered into 
his kingdom. The opening of the sixth seal, 
made it manifest that a warlike power was 
raised, which threatened the mighty ones of 
earth with temporal devastation, desolation, 
and the overthrow of civil authority ; but which 
was not permitted to carry into execution its 
plotted evils, until the servants of God had 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 55 

given incontestable proof of the purity and 
inoffensiveness of the Christian religion. The 
opening of the seventh seal discloses the 
threatening, and the manner of executing 
seven dire calamities upon the human race. 
It embraces the seven trumpets and the last 
seven plagues, and the destructive and bene- 
ficial results thereof, namely, the downfall ofj 
Babylon or the apostate church, and the renewal 
of the New Jerusalem, or the Church of Christ 
in its pristine purity and holiness. 

But the way in which our attention is drawn 
to those declarations of the New Testament, 
which furnish us with those conclusions of the 
results of the opening of the first four seals, 
is seen in the following manner : It is supposed 
to be proved that the four beasts mentioned in 
chapters fourth, fifth, and sixth of this proph- 
ecy are the same as the four angels mentioned 
in the sixth trumpet and vial. And I shall 
endeavor to show, by quotations from those 
authors, that they exhibit the representations 
manifested when those living creatures say, 
" come and see ; " or, in other words, that the 



56 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

passages in connection with the words " come 
and see," found in the four evangelists, and 
what John, in the Revelation said he saw, is 
the sum and substance of those passages found 
in the evangelists in connection with the 
words " come and see." This is a remarkable 
fact, whether designed by inspiration, as is here 
alleged, or accidental, as those who will finally 
discredit this theory will suppose. And this 
is the more remarkable as the testimony is 
sometimes two-fold, inasmuch as the same rep- 
resentation can be proved by taking the tes- 
timony from different evangelists. For it is 
not contradictory to the assertion that one of 
the four beasts said, " come and see," if another 
also should, under similar circumstances, give 
the same invitation. ' 

It is recorded in Rev. vi. 1, 2 : "And I saw 
when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and 
I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one 
of the four beasts, saying, "come and see." 
And I saw, and behold a white horse : and he 
that sat on him had a bow ; and a crown was 
given unto him : and he went forth conquering, 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 57 

and to conquer." It should be noticed that it 
is not said the first beast, but that one of the 
beasts said, " come and see.' 5 So you are at lib- 
erty to take the testimony from Matthew or 
John, as these are the only two evangelists 
which have the passages in connection with 
the words "come and see," which will fill the 
representation recorded in the second verse 
of the same chapter. "And I saw and behold 
a white horse : and he that sat on him had a 
bow; and a crown was given unto him, and 
he went forth conquering, and to conquer." 
It can be seen that the passages, whether 
taken from Matthew or John, refer to Christ, 
and delineate his earthly difficulties, and his 
complete success in overcoming them. The 
testimony from Matthew is not so copious as 
that from John ; but I will give that testimony 
first. It is recorded in Matt. ii. 9: "Lo, the 
star, which they saw in the east went before 
them till it came and stood over where the 
young child was." The star in silent language 
seemed to say, "come and see," and they 
obeyed. " And when they were come into the 



58 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

house, they saw the young child with Mary his 
mother, and fell down, and worshiped him." 
Here was the great victory, the babe born in 
a manger receiving the adoration and princely 
gifts of the wise men of the east, guided by 
the miraculous direction of the star of Bethle- 
hem. And the only testimony besides this 
just presented, which I have found in the book 
of Matthew, is recorded in Matt, xxviii. 6: 
"Come see the place where the Lord lay." 
When you take into consideration the circum- 
stances of the life and death of Jesus of 
Nazareth, how he was crucified with malefac- 
tors, and obtained a burial in a rich man's 
tomb, and that even the tomb was not able to 
contain his body, but it broke forth from the 
slumbers of the grave, as the Lord of death 
and the grave, the victory seems complete — > 
from the cradle to the grave he was victorious, 
going forth conquering, and to conquer. 

But as this testimony is not very ample, and 
many may be disposed to doubt the coinci- 
dence between the passages in connection 
with the words "come and see," because, in the 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 59 

first instance, it was not audible words to that 
effect, but only the silent guidance of the star, 
although came and saw are only the past tense 
of come and see, I will, therefore, adduce more 
ample testimony from the book of John. Ac- 
cording to the scriptural declaration, the last 
shall be first and the first last. And accord- 
ingly the first " come and see," to which I shall 
call your attention, is recorded in John i. 46 : 
" And Nathaniel said unto him, can there any 
good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith 
unto him, come and see." Take under consid- 
eration that Jesus Christ entered his ministry 
under unfavorable circumstances, being con- 
sidered a Nazarene, which was allied in their 
minds with whatever was mean and contemp- 
tible. To conquer implies difficulties to be 
overcome. And here was a great prejudice 
of the Jews to overcome, on account of the 
place of his residence and supposed nativity. 
The first " come and see " shows a difficulty to 
be overcome, and a partial conquest of that 
difficulty. The second " come and see " shows 
a more complete victory, as can be seen by 



60 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

the second quotation from the same book, 
which is found recorded in John iv. 29 : "Come, 
see a man, which told me all things that ever 
I did : is not this the Christ ? " Here is a con- 
fession of a woman who had not been a disci- 
ple of Christ, and on that account could not be 
suspected of deceit, acknowledging the great 
wisdom of Jesus of Nazareth. In this he 
surely conquered, proving by a disinterested 
witness that he possessed ample knowledge to 
fill that sphere which he occupied. The next 
"come and see" affords no evidence of his su- 
perior wisdom, but, on the contrary, would seem 
to imply frailty in knowledge as he acted by the 
direction of others, and seemed so overcome 
as to sympathize and weep with his afflicted 
friends. Yet the sequel showed his great power, 
when, at his bidding, he who had been dead 
burst forth from the fetters of the grave. This 
testimony is found recorded in John xi. 34 : 
"And said, where have ye laid him ? They said 
unto him, Lord, come and see. 5 ' We have in 
this passage connected with the words " come 
and see," a history of the resurrection of 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 61 

Lazarus. Christ raising him from the dead 
shows forth his power, and thus proves his 
qualifications for the ministry which he entered 
into under such unfavorable circumstances, as 
is manifested by the exclamation, " can any 
good come out of Nazareth ?" 

But if in this life he had conquered all his 
other difficulties, and had suffered death by the 
hands of his enemies, like many others had 
done, he might be considered a martyr to truth 
or righteousness, but not a conquerer. And 
exultation of his enemies might have appeared 
true, he saved others, but himself he could not 
save. If he had died a natural death he might 
have conquered all his personal enemies. If 
he had not died at all he might have conquered 
all his enemies but the grave. For to conquer 
implies a contest, and if he had had no contest 
with the grave, he could not have conquered 
it. And the final testimony of this his last con- 
quest is found recorded in John xx. 27, 29. To 
this we are also directed by the words " come 
and see," or their equivalents: "Reach hither 
thy finger, and behold my hands ; and reach 



62 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side ; and 
be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas 
answered and said unto him, my Lord and my 
God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because 
thou hast seen me, thou hast believed." Our 
Savior calls the acts seeing, and it was, doubt- 
less, the strongest evidence given to any of the 
disciples of the resurrection of Christ from the 
grave. 

There are other " come and sees " found in 
the book of John, which all show forth a con- 
quest of difficulty. They are sometimes taken 
singly, and sometimes by pairs. Sometimes 
the see is only used, but the come is implied. 
But it may not be necessary to multiply evi- 
dence so much as to say all that might be said 
on the subject. Suffice it to say that all this 
testimony connected with the different "come 
and sees," recorded in the book of John, con- 
stitutes that portion of the history of our 
Savior, which was a mystery to the Jews of 
the Old Testament dispensation. And our 
Savior, who was the Lamb of God, broke this 
seal or revealed this mystery when he per- 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 63 

formed the acts described, and caused their 
record to be made for succeeding generations. 
By the white horse we are to understand the 
purity of character which Christ possessed. 
His having a bow denotes that he has power 
to execute vengeance on his enemies. And 
his going forth conquering and to conquer de- 
notes that he was placed under exceedingly 
great difficulties, all of w^hich we have seen he 
overcame. 

But does any one suppose that all this re- 
semblance is accidental, and that the person 
on the white horse does not necessarily repre- 
sent Christ? If so, it would be well to consult 
the testimony of inspiration. It is recorded in 
Kev. xix. 11, 13: "And I saw heaven opened, 
and behold a white horse ; and he that sat upon 
him was called faithful and true, and in right- 
eousness he doth judge and make war. And 
he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: 
and his name is called the word of God." Ac- 
cording as it is written in John i. 14: "And 
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, 
and we beheld his glory, the glory as of 



64 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

the only begotten of the Father, full of grace 
and truth." The conclusion seems to be irre- 
sistible, and it is generally admitted to be 
Jesus Christ. It may be acknowledged that 
the person on the white horse is Christ, but, at 
the same time, supposed that the victory men- 
tioned is confined to the success of his cause 
from the foundation of Christianity to the close 
of time. This supposition lessens the greatness 
of the conquest. For when the Lord has risen, 
is seated on his throne of glory, and is invested 
with all power in heaven and on earth, the 
equality of the contest is greatly diminished, 
as is illustrated by worldly history, when it is 
said Caesar conquered Pompey. The victory 
is greater than if he had fought with a less 
distinguished general and a feebler foe. And 
besides the latter conquest is the personal af- 
fair of the followers of Christ while upon earth, 
who are seated on white horses, and follow 
their leader, who has gone before them in his 
earthly career. 

"And when he had opened the second seal, 
I heard the second beast say, < come and see.' 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 65 

And there went out another horse that was 
red; and power was given to him that sat 
thereon to take peace from the earth, and that 
they should kill one another : and there was 
given unto him a great sword." — Rev. vi. 3, 4. 
It is recorded in Matt. xxiv. 2 : " And Jesus said 
unto them, See ye not all these things ? verily 
I say unto you, There shall not be left here 
one stone upon another, that shall not be 
thrown down." This prediction of our Savior 
refers to the destruction of the temple at 
Jerusalem, which was announced to the disci- 
ples while present in the temple. It was ac- 
companied by the invitation, u See ye not all 
these things." Although they were all present 
in the temple, yet their minds were especially 
directed by the interrogation to see or contem- 
plate the buddings of the temple, and is, there- 
fore, equivalent to the expression, " come and 
see." For if their minds were directed to some 
other object or subject, they might not notice 
the greatness or beauty of the buildings. All 
the other evangelists, who record this prediction 



66 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

of our Savior, introduce it in some manner by 
the exhortation to see or behold these things. 

That the Jewish temple and its institutions 
should be superseded by the Christian dispen- 
sation was a mystery to the Jews ; and was 
only disclosed by Christ to his disciples, who 
were enabled to comprehend its necessity and 
predetermined design. And this was accom- 
plished by war, as is denoted by the red horse 
which John said he saw. As the taking away 
peace from the earth, and having a great sword, 
also plainly apply. 

" And when he opened the third seal, I heard 
the third beast say, i come and see.' And I 
beheld, and, lo, a black horse; and he that sat 
on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four 
beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, 
and three measures of barley for a penny ; and 
see thou hurt not the oil and the wine." — Rev. 
vi. 5, 6. 

The next evangelist to whom I shall call 
your attention, is Mark. It is recorded in 
Mark xiii. 21 : " And if any man shall say to 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 67 

you, lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there, be- 
lieve him not." This quotation is part of a dis- 
course of Christ to his disciples while seated 
upon the Mount of Olives, which refers to the 
destruction of Jerusalem, and includes ample 
directions to the disciples how to escape the 
severity of the calamities which was about to 
befall the Jewish nation. It is asserted that 
this passage is referred to, when the third seal 
is opened, and John heard the third beast say, 
" Come and see." For the word translated lo ; 
as 6 lo here ; ' lo there is the same word which is 
elsewhere translated see. And the phrase 
means see here, see there, and is equivalent to 
"come and see." 

It is also asserted that the representation 
expressed by what John said he saw, is the same 
as the substance of the discourse of Christ to 
his disciples, which may be seen in the follow- 
ing manner: The black horse denotes famine, 
according to the usage of Scripture, as shown 
by Lam. v. 10 : " Our skin was black like an 
oven, because of the terrible famine." The 
balances, or scales, in the hand of the rider on 



68 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

the black horse denotes the retribution which 
awaited the guilty victims, or the vengeance 
about to be inflicted upon the inhabitants 
of Jerusalem, for the rejection and crucifixion 
of our Savior. The scarcity of food and grain 
is indicated by the phrase " a measure of wheat 
for a penny, and three measures of barley for 
a penny." For the original word here trans- 
lated measure denotes such a capacity as to 
contain the grain for the bread of one man one 
day ; or, in modern military phraseology, one 
ration of wheat. For such a quantity to be 
sold for a denarius, the ancient Roman coin 
here translated penny, which was the wages 
of a man for a day, must denote great scarcity 
and high price. For, when a man can only earn 
in a day the bread required for himself for that 
day, it is evident he would have no surplus to 
buy food for a family, or to buy the other nec- 
essaries of life. And the starvation of all de- 
pendent on others for support, must be the nat- 
ural consequence. And three measures of bar- 
ley for a penny denotes that that grain was 
equally dear, considering the uses to which it 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 69 

was generally applied in ancient times, being 
appropriated to the sustenance of domestic 
animals ; as wheat was to that of the human 
family. "And see thou hurt not the oil and 
the wine." In the parable of the ten virgins, 
the wise had oil in their vessels with their 
lamps. These evidently denote true Christians, 
as wine is used in the communion or Lord's 
supper, of which, those who properly partake, 
are true Christians. 

The amount of the subject is this, that the 
destruction of Jerusalem was determined on, 
as a punishment to the disobedient Jews for their 
rejection and crucifixion of Christ; from which 
the Christians were to be exempt, as Christ 
had directed them that as a reward for their 
fidelity, and, also, that they might be instru- 
mental in diffusing Christianity throughout the 
world. And the unbelieving Jews were to be 
deluded to their own destruction, by trusting 
in false Christs, who were expected to deliver 
them from the power of the Romans. But 
our Savior plainly foretold his disciples these 
events, and gave them such directions as 



70 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

enabled them personally to escape the calami- 
ties which befell their unbelieving countrymen. 
And this is the warning which is expressed by 
"lo, here is Christ; lo, he is there, believe them 
not." For, if they trusted in these false Christs, 
they would not obey the directions upon which 
their personal safety depended, and God would 
not interfere and furnish them other means to 
escape from the threatening calamity. 

Although this discourse, on the Mount of 
Olives, was an explanation of a former one, 
predicting the destruction of the temple, it 
was, nevertheless, delivered at another time 
and place, and essentially distinct from it. 
For it was possible for the temple to be de- 
stroyed without the destruction of the city. 
And, also, for the latter to be mostly destroyed 
without the destruction of the former. They 
are two distinct things, inasmuch as each sep- 
arately was a mystery or sealed subject to the 
Jews, and is, therefore, distinguished into two 
parts ; namely, the destruction of the temple 
and its mode of worship, or the cessation of the 
Jewish religion as an object of divine appoint- 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 71 

ment or favor, and the destruction of Jerusa- 
lem, under the most appalling scenes of blood- 
shed and famine. 

Rev. vi. 7, 8 : "And when he had opened the 
fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth 
beast say, c come and see.' And I looked, and 
behold a pale horse: and his name that sat 
on him was death, and hell followed with him. 
And power was given unto them over the fourth 
part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with 
hunger, and with death, and with the beasts 
of the earth." 

The next " come and see " that claims our at- 
tention, it seems, should be found in the book 
of Luke. Because I have quoted from John, 
Matthew, and Mark, and Luke, alone, remains. 
And I confess that I can not find any " come 
and see " in the book of Luke, corresponding 
with the representation set forth on the open- 
ing of the fourth seal. But I turn to the Acts 
of the Apostles, and find that it was written by 
an author, who had written another treatise 
of all that Jesus began to do and teach. And 
the Acts of the Apostles are generally 



72 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN, 

attributed to Luke. And I find in Acts viii. 36, 
37 : " See, here is water ; what doth hinder me 
to be baptized? And Philip said, if thou be- 
lievest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And 
he answered and said, I believe that Jesus 
Christ is the Son of God." " See here " is a 
phrase equivalent to "come and see." And 
see, here is water, is connected with the con- 
fession that Jesus is the Christ. And when 
Peter made the same confession, Jesus told him 
that on this rock he would build his church. 
And it is a fact beyond the power of success- 
ful contradiction, that adherence to this con- 
fession was the cause of the death of Christ, 
and of all of his followers, who died as martyrs 
for his sake, as may be partly seen in Matt, 
xxvi. 63-66: "And the high priest answered 
and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living 
God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ 
the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou 
hast said: nevertheless, I say unto you, Here- 
after shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the 
right hand of power, and coming in the clouds 
of heaven. Then the high priest rent his 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 73 

clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy ; 
what further need have we of witnesses? be- 
hold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What 
think ye ? They answered and said, He is guilty 
of death." Christ made this confession under 
oath before the Jewish high priest, and for it 
was judged guilty of blasphemy, and worthy 
of death. So, also, all of his disciples, who, 
by adhering to that confession, have sacrificed 
their lives, may be said to have perished by 
sword, and by hunger, and by the beasts of the 
earth. 

The fourth seal opened reveals the fact 
which was before little understood, that God 
would permit the enemies of Christianity to 
show their hatred to it by their cruel persecu- 
tions of its early followers ; and that he would 
make the malice of its enemies conducive to 
the spread of the gospel. 

The opening of the fifth seal is not accom- 
panied with references to passages in other 
parts of Scripture, but it shows that God's pe- 
culiar care was exercised toward those who 
had been martyred for the testimony which 



74 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

they held, although they had been cruelly 
treated by men in authority while on earth. 
That their persecution was not permitted from 
any want of love to their faithfulness, purity, 
and sincerity, but it was to test their fidelity, 
show the wonderful power of their faith, and 
perpetuate the purity of the church. That 
their reward was prepared and made sure unto 
them when their number should be completed. 
Rev. vi. 12: "And I beheld when he had 
opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great 
earthquake; and the sun became black as 
sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as 
blood." The word earthquake may, with equal 
propriety, be translated commotion. The ele- 
ments of a physical revolution were organized 
which threatened the devastation and destruc- 
tion of the established physical organization 
then existing. Clans and hoards of barbarians 
were organizing, gaining power, and making 
irruptions on. civilized nations, threatening the 
devastation and destruction of the civilized 
governments, and the supplanting them by the 
hardships and privations of barbarian life 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 75 

"And the sun became black as sackcloth of 
hair." This is interpreted as follows : The first 
equivalent for sun in the natural .world is 
Christ the Sun of righteousness, who is so 
called spiritually or figuratively. Christ is 
called, in like manner, the " Word of God," and 
this last expression is susceptible of two in- 
terpretations, the latter of which signifies the 
Scriptures of truth, in which sense the connec- 
tion requires it to be taken here. The Scrip- 
tures were, therefore, greatly depressed or 
overpowered by the disturbed state attending 
the barbarian invasion. For it was as sack- 
cloth of hair, which denotes mourning; as 
sackcloth was used on such occasions. " And 
the moon became as blood," which is under- 
stood as follows: The moon denotes the cere- 
monial law of Moses — an institution inferior 
to the gospel. According as it it written: 
"The law was given by Moses, but grace and 
truth came by Jesus Christ. The law of Moses 
is compared with grace and truth, and is con- 
sidered inferior to it. Grace and truth have 
been proved to be equal to the gospel, and 



76 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

Christ and the gospel are used as equivalents, 
and Christ is the Sun of righteousness, there- 
fore, the Sun of righteousness is compared with 
the law of Moses, and is acknowledged to be 
superior to it. And in the natural world, the 
light next inferior to the sun is the moon. 
Christ was the dispenser of the gospel as Moses 
was the law of Jewish ceremonies, and they 
stand in the same relation to each other as the 
sun does to the moon, which, therefore, de- 
notes the ceremonial law of Moses, an institu- 
tion enlightening mankind by its borrowed 
light. By becoming blood is to be understood 
the corruptive, dead state, to which it was re- 
duced when superseded by the gospel. 

Rev. vi. 13 : "And the stars of heaven fell 
unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her 
untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty 
wind." 

The stars of heaven are the less lights of the 
firmament as the teachings of the apostles are 
inferior to that of Christ, the Sun of righteous- 
ness. They are also inferior to the law of 
Moses ; inasmuch as they were not dignified 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 77 

with the rank of a separate institution of God, 
as was the Mosaic dispensation. These teach- 
ings were displaced or overwhelmed by the 
physical or natural commotion agitating the 
world; or, in other words, divinely appointed 
dispensations instituted by Moses. Christ and 
his apostles appeared to be overwhelmed by 
barbaric and Pagan idolatry. 

Kev. vi. 14 : " And the heaven departed as a 
scroll when it is rolled together ; and every 
mountain and island were moved out of their 
places." 

By the heaven departing as a scroll we are 
to understand that the events transpiring on 
the earth were apparently unfavorable to the 
reign of the Messiah or the gospel dispensa- 
tion. That the kingdom of heaven or gospel 
dispensation retreated to the obscure places 
of earth. And as the mountains and islands 
are the prominent objects of earth and sea, so, 
also, the prominent objects in state and church 
were moved out of their accustomed abodes. 
For we have already shown that the word sea 
denotes the church, and what is earthly, if 



78 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

that is not which is not spiritual? Rev. 
vi. 15: "And the kings of the earth, and 
the great men, and the rich men, and the 
chief captains, and the mighty men, and every 
bond man, and every free man, hid themselves 
in the dens and in the rocks of the mount- 
ains." 

All ranks and conditions of men were af- 
fected by this revolution, and greatly bewailed 
its dire calamities. They sought refuge from 
its severity in the huts and hovels of the bar- 
barian ; in the dens and caves of the earth — 
habitations more fit for the .wild beasts of the 
wilderness, than for the abodes of civilized 
life. And, although inferior agencies were used 
to bring about those great changes in the af- 
fairs of men, yet the true cause was the wrath 
of the Lamb ; or the retribution which awaited 
the persecutors of the Christian church. 

Rev. viii. 1 : " And when he had opened the 
seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about 
the space of half an hour." 

The seventh seal differs from all the others 
in the number of the items of which it is com* 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 79 

posed, and the great length of time over which 
it extends. And it differs from the most of the 
others in being partly verified by a different 
witness. For the first five consist of only one 
item each. The first four are proved from the 
Scriptures, partly by means of the index " come 
and see." The fifth, sixth, and seventh are 
partly proved from the book of Providence, 
but they all agree in one particular, namely, 
in being illustrated by means of gospel equiv- 
alents, without which they are comparatively 
unintelligible. The seventh seal consists of 
seven distinct items, five of which are already 
past and finished. The sixth has been nearly 
completed, and the seventh item is yet to be 
developed in the future. Yet all these items 
can now be understood, although they are 
partly proved by different witnesses. For the 
Scriptures themselves are acknowledged to be 
sufficient testimony on any subject to which 
they relate. And the book of Providence or 
the history of the past transactions of men, 
when taken in connection with the testimony 
of inspiration is a reliable witness. 



80 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

" There was silence in heaven about the space 
of half an hour." Between the administration 
of forbearance, and the retribution due to in- 
iquity, a short pause took place, which is here 
indicated by the word silence. When Con- 
stantine, the Roman emperor, embraced Chris- 
tianity, a day of temporal prosperity seemed 
about to dawn upon the church. We may sup- 
pose that great expectations were excited in 
the minds of all created holy intelligences, 
whether men or angels, to see the result of 
this change of the hostility of kings, hereto- 
fore manifested toward the church. A pause 
of suspense took place for a short duration, 
here designated by the term "silence for half 
an hour. 55 

But the favor of kings was more detrimental 
to the church, than their most determined op- 
position. For the church persecuted was like 
gold tried in the fire. But the church pro- 
tected by princes, became amalgamated with 
heathenish superstition. The world now be- 
came guilty of a two-fold sin against the 
church. It had been at first guilty of the most 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 81 

violent persecutions, and to this was added a 
more fearful consequence, namely, of corrupt- 
ing the vital principles of truth and holiness. 
The silence mentioned in the text was the 
pause between the toleration of its enemies, 
who had inflicted terrible acts of injustice to- 
ward the church, and the retribution about to 
be inflicted upon the civilized world, in seven 
distinct particulars, and through many centu- 
ries of time. 

The phrase "in heaven," in this place, is sus- 
ceptible of two different interpretations. One 
is the church or gospel dispensation ; as it is 
written, "For the kingdom of heaven is at 
hand." The other is the local habitation of the 
Deity, according as it is written, "Heaven is 
my throne." But in which ever sense it is here 
taken, it will not materially alter the meaning 
in this place, for in the former sense, the rep- 
resentation will have to be understood in the 
sense of announcement or prophecy. In the 
latter signification it will have to be under- 
stood of its design or determination. Prophecy 



82 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

or determination in the divine government are 
both equivalent to fulfillment or execution. 

"And I saw the seven angels which stood 
before God." They are the same as the seven 
stars mentioned in Kev. i. 16, 20, wherein it is 
said the seven stars are the angels of the seven 
churches. The seven angels are the seven 
pastors of the churches of Asia. The word 
angel means messenger. God's messengers 
are most commonly disembodied spirits. But 
sometimes the sons of men are honored with 
the office of messenger ; according as it is writ- 
ten, "For the priest's lips should keep knowl- 
edge, and they should seek the law at his 
mouth : for he is the messenger of the Lord of 
of hosts." — Mai. ii. 7. A pastor is the priest 
of the gospel dispensation, and a messenger is 
an angel. Things that are equal to the same 
are equal to each other. Therefore, the seven 
angels are the pastors of the seven churches 
of Asia. 

"Which stood before God." The seven stars 
are represented to be held in Christ's right 
hand. He is represented as standing at the 



THE SEVEN SEALS. 83 

golden altar before the throne. And, more- 
over, Christ is represented in Kev. i. 13, as be- 
ing in the midst of the seven golden candle- 
sticks. And in verse twentieth, the seven can- 
dlesticks are declared to be the seven churches. 
A pastor's business and duties are with his 
flock or church. And if Christ was in the 
midst of the golden candlesticks, and his place 
was at the golden altar before the throne, and 
the seven stars were in his right hand, they, 
also, must be situated before the throne of 
God. 

"And to them were given seven trumpets." 
The trumpet is an instrument of publication or 
proclamation; as is also a book. They are, 
therefore, equivalents. The seven trumpets 
are the seven copies of the book of Revela- 
tion, which John was commanded to write and 
send to the churches of Asia. According as 
it is written, "What thou seest write in a book 
and send unto the seven churches which are 
in Asia." — Rev. i. 11. They were to declare 
the contents of the book, like as if they pro- 
claimed them with a trumpet. According as 



84 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

it is written in Isa. lviii. 1: "Cry aloud, spare 
not, lift up thy voice as a trumpet, and show 
my people their transgression, and the house 
of Jacob their sins." 

Eev. viii. 3: "And another angel came and 
stood at the altar, having a golden censer ; and 
there was given unto him much incense, that he 
should offer it with the prayers of all saints 
upon the golden altar which was before the 
throne." The golden censer, golden altar, and 
the incense with the prayers of all saints are 
the names of things and persons in both the 
Old and New Testaments. They, therefore, 
need not be solved by gospel equivalents. 



THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 85 



CHAPTER V. 

THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 

"And I saw another sign in heaven, great 
and marvelous, seven angels having the seven 
last plagues ; for in them is filled up the wrath 
of God." — Rev. xv. 1. 

" And one of the four beasts gave unto the 
seven angels seven golden vials full of the 
wrath of God, who liveth forever and ever." — 
Rev. xv. 7. 

" And I heard a great voice out of the temple 
saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and 
pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon 
the earth." — Rev. xvi. 1. 

The seven vials of God's wrath are said to 
be poured outmpon the earth. It can be said 
that the word " earth ? is not used strictly in 
the sense of the material earth in a philo- 



86 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

sophical sense. For the fourth vial was poured 
out upon the sun, which is no part of the earth, 
as one of the planets of the solar system. 
But the result of the outpouring of the fourth 
vial affected the inhabitants of the earth ; for 
they were scorched with heat. It is plain that 
the word earth, in its first and general sense, 
is here used to designate the inhabitants of the 
earth, that is the earth which is the container 
is here used figuratively for its inhabitants ; or, 
in other words, the fourth vial is said to be 
poured out upon the earth, when it is poured 
out upon the inhabitants. This figurative use 
of words is common to all mankind ; as we 
say a man is wedded to his bottle — that is the 
liquor it contains ; the stage dines here — that 
is the passengers. 

THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 

God's final manifestations of displeasure to- 
ward the human race may be divided into 
seven different classes. The first one mani- 
fests that God vindicates the cause of the 
righteous by punishing in his own good time 



THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 87 

their oppressors. The second one makes it 
evident that spiritual advantages, if neglected 
and perverted, shall be taken from their pos- 
sessors, and given to others who will make 
better use of those privileges. The third makes 
it evident, that if they pervert the ordinances 
of God's worship, that he permits them to know, 
by bitter experience, that they will receive 
less advantages from false systems of theology 
than from true ones. The fourth one shows 
that if they practice evil, while acknowledging 
the authority of the Word of God, they must 
pervert its interpretation to justify their con- 
duct. The fifth shows that God often makes 
use of perverted beings to punish others of 
like character. The sixth shows that God has 
great care over the free investigation of the 
Scriptures, and will not always permit them to 
be bound, but will cut off from the living those 
that circumscribe its free investigation. The 
seventh show's that God will eventually bring 
into contempt and derision all kinds of false 
philosophy which comes in contact with his 
word. 



88 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

The first of the last seven plagues was na- 
tional in its character, warlike in its nature, 
and deteriorating in its results. It was the mar- 
tial triumph of barbarism over civilization. 
In this respect it differed from some of the tri- 
umphs of preceding ages, which had resulted 
in planting a more intelligent and scientific 
civilization on the minds of a ruder, more in- 
dolent and barbarous one, as the erection of 
the Grecian empire was the triumph of su^ 
perior skill and energy over indolence and 
luxury. For the Greeks excelled the Persians 
in general intelligence and enterprise, as well 
as military science and energy of character. 
The Eoman empire, also, was founded by mili- 
tary skill, as well as by a superiority of valor 
and hardihood. But the overthrow of this 
empire was the triumph of a rude valor over 
a refined indolence. For the Romans, in the 
decline of their empire, retained refinements 
of scientific skill without their original hardi- 
hood of character. These attainments proved 
inadequate to the desperate valor of the bar- 
barians. The result of the seven barbarian 



THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 89 

invasions was the downfall of the Roman em- 
pire, and formed a new epoch in the history 
of nations. In an earthly point of view, this 
is viewed as a calamity, and this result is by the 
writer considered as the first of the last seven 
plagues. It was an act of retribution dispensed 
upon a guilty, idolatrous nation, which had 
shamefully persecuted the servants of the Most 
High, who now had in his providence com- 
menced a series of chastisements to teach re- 
bellious men moderation and equity, and to do 
his saints no harm. 

Is it not plainly perceptible that the refine- 
ments of luxury chiefly tend to bodily ease 
and comfort? For, who would willingly relin- 
quish the advantages of a commodious and 
comfortable dwelling for the rude hut of the 
barbarian or savage? Would not the lodge 
of ihe Indian, made of poles and covered with 
skins or bark, admitting wind and rain, and 
only partially emitting smoke from a hole in 
the roof, be considered more desirable than the 
splendid mansion with all its implements of 
art and luxury? Would the mahogany sofa 



90 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

and downy bed be willingly substituted for the 
ground and puncheon floor, covered with leaves 
or skins of wild animals, for a couch by day or 
a bed by night? Would the precarious fare 
of the hunter or fisherman be willingly ex- 
changed for the luxurious repast of modern 
cookery? If there is plainly a difference in 
these modes of life, the advantages belong to 
a state of civilization and refinement. If God 
in his providence should cause the overthrow 
of this civilization, he might justly be said to 
pour out his wrath upon the bodily ease and 
comfort of men. And, accordingly, the first 
vial was said to be poured out upon the earth, 
or the bodies of men, when the wars which it 
predicted resulted most disastrously to the 
ease and comfort of the individuals who suf- 
fered its calamity. 

The sixteenth chapter of the book of Eeve- 
lation contains an account of the outpouring 
of the seven vials of God's wrath. It is re- 
corded in Kev. xvL 1, 2 : "And I heard a great 
voice out of the temple saying to the seven 
angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials 



THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 91 

of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the 
first went, and poured out his yial upon the 
earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous 
sore upon the men which had the mark of the 
beast, and upon them which worshiped his 
image." 

The science of scriptural algebra, like algebra 
itself, is applied to the investigation of things 
unknown. The proper use of gospel equiva- 
lents consists in simply substituting, in some 
instances, equivalent gospel expressions for one 
another. For example in the pouring out of 
the vials recorded in Rev. xvi., I merely substi- 
tute some equivalent for the object upon which 
it was poured, taking all other parts of the de- 
scription in their most obvious and acknowl- 
edged meanings. The first angel poured out 
his vial upon the earth. The word earth is not 
to be taken in its inanimate form, but to be 
substituted for the bodies of men. As it is 
written, " dust thou art," and as it is said in the 
burial service, "earth to earth, and dust to 
dust." The theory is, that God was* about to 
execute signal vengeance upon the civilized 



92 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

world for their persecution of the church. And 
so he had prepared the northern barbarians to 
overthrow the Roman empire, and obliterate 
civilization with its genial physical develop- 
ments. For who will deny that civilization is 
more conducive to bodily ease and comfort 
than a state of barbarism ? So, then, the first 
vial was poured out upon the earth, or the 
bodies of men, when the Roman empire was 
displaced by northern barbarism. 

Nor is it a valid objection to this theory be- 
cause it is recorded in the second verse of the 
same chapter, that " there fell a noisome and 
grievous sore upon the men which had the 
mark of the beast, and upon them which wor- 
shiped his image." Admitting that the char- 
acters described as having the marks of the 
beast, and as being worshipers of his image, 
were not in existence when the Roman empire 
was destroyed, the results of the first vial 
poured out did not terminate with the first ob- 
jects of God's displeasure. For the substitu- 
tion of barbarism for civilization was not 
only detrimental to the bodily ease and enjoy- 



THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 93 

ment of its first victims, but was also detrimen- 
tal to Christian light and knowledge, and was 
attended with mental degradation, ignorance, 
superstition, and many other concomitant 
evils. And the adherents of the apostate 
church, in after ages, also felt the evils attend- 
ant on an obliterated civilization. Their ca- 
lamity was not of the same kind as that ol the 
first objects of God's displeasure, but was, 
nevertheless, the natural consequence of the 
manifestation of that displeasure. 

Eev. xvi. 3: "And the second angel poured 
out his vial upon the sea ; and it became as the 
blood of a dead man : and every living soul 
died in the sea." 

Although the effect of the second vial 
poured out was partly produced by the pour- 
ing out of the first; yet God had not relin- 
quished his providential care of his intelligent 
creatures. He did not, in this instance, per- 
mit its direful effects to fall upon the innocent 
For he doth nothing without a cause. Ac- 
cording as it is written in Prov. xxvi. 2: "The 
curse causeless shall not come." 



9 4 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

In the solution of the book of Revelation 
by the system I have adopted, the object upon 
which the second vial was poured out is not so 
plainly obvious as are the objects upon which 
the other vials are poured, but the connection 
with the other vials and concurrent circum- 
stances conspire to prove it to be the professing 
church of Christ, which had apostatized from 
the true faith. It may not be considered a vi- 
olation of sound interpretation to consider the 
phrase translated many waters, in the first 
verse of chapter seventeen, equivalent to the 
word sea in this. For the phrase might, with 
propriety, be translated "much water," which 
is the natural equivalent for the sea. If this 
should be admitted to be so, we have given us, 
by divine inspiration, the interpretation of 
many waters to be peoples, and multitudes, 
and nations, and tongues of which the visible 
church, whether of Christ or antichrist, was 
composed. For the church is composed of in- 
dividual members of different nations and lan- 
guages. Nor are the points of resemblance 
few or unimportant. The sea, like the church, 



THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 95 

receives the refuse and impurities of earth, 
and purifies them. They both have received 
constant accessions in all ages of the world, 
and from all parts of the earth, and yet there 
is room in each. The sea is salt, and true 
Christians are the salt of the earth. The 
church is composed of the human family, and 
the sound of men, in the busy haunts of life, 
resembles the sound of many waters. The sea 
possesses the elements of self-preservation, as 
does also the church. So, then, it is maintained 
that the sea, the object upon which the second 
vial was poured out, was the nominal church 
of Christ. 

Now, the history of events in question is, 
that the barbarians overthrew the civilization 
of the world, and the nominal church of Christ 
became corrupted by receiving into it unworthy 
members, who did not partake of, appreciate, 
or understand the purity of its design or 
origin. 

Rev. xvi. 4 : " And the third angel poured out 
his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters ; 
and they became blood." 



96 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

The third vial was poured out upon the riv- 
ers and fountains of waters. By rivers and 
fountains of waters we are to understand some- 
thing like ordinances of religion, or principles 
of Christianity. According as it is written: 
"And he showed me a pure river of water of 
life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the 
throne of God and the Lamb." — Rev. xxii. 1. 
" And let him that is athirst come. And who- 
soever will, let him take the water of life 
freely." — Rev. xxii. 17. By blood is to be un- 
derstood pollution. According as it is written 
in Ezek. xvi. 6 : "And when I passed by thee, 
and saw thee polluted in thine own blood." 
The ordinances of Christianity, like the apostle 
himself, are a savor of life unto life, or death 
unto death. Aacording to the declaration of 
the apostle as found recorded in Cor.ii. 15, 16 : 
"For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, 
in them that are saved, and in them that per- 
ish. To the one we are the savor of death 
unto death, and to the other the savor of life 
unto life." So, then, when the apostate church 
polluted the ordinances of Christianity, they 



THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 97 

became an abomination in the sight of God, 
and became the instruments of condemnation, 
instead of the means of grace And the third 
vial of God's wrath may be said to be poured 
out upon them when they had totally lost their 
life-giving efficacy. 

Rev. xvi. 8 : " And the fourth angel poured 
out his vial upon the sun ; and power was 
given unto him to scorch men with fire." 

And the fourth vial was poured out upon the 
sun. By the word sun is to be understood the 
Scriptures of truth, which are shown to be the 
equivalents in the following manner : Christ is 
generally acknowledged to be the Sun of 
righteousness. He is also called the Word of 
God, according as it is written in Rev. xix. 13 : 
" And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in 
blood: and his name is called the Word of 
God." But the phrase "Word of God" denotes, 
also, the Scriptures of truth. Does any one 
maintain that we have no authority for the 
substitution of the w r ord Scriptures for the word 
Christ as the signification of the phrase Word 
of God. For the benefit of such, I will prove 



98 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

that this virtually corresponds with the usage 
of the Scriptures. For the word Christ is, by 
the usage of the Scriptures, considered equiv- 
alent to the word gospel, which latter word I 
will prove by the peculiarities of scriptural 
algebra equivalent to the entire "Word of 
God;" although, in so doing, I shall be com- 
pelled to explain some principles of scriptural 
algebra not otherwise necessary to the eluci- 
dation of the subject. To preach Christ is to 
preach the gospel, and the latter is the most 
essential part of the Scriptures, and can not be 
fully illustrated and established without the 
writings of all other parts of the Old and New 
Testaments. The gospel is like the vital parts 
of the human or any other animal body, which 
being destroyed the animal life is destroyed 
with them. So, also, it is written the Scrip- 
tures can not be broken. Nor was Christ's 
bones broken on the cross. For it is written 
in Heb. iv. 12 : "The Word of God is quick, pow- 
erful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, 
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul 
and spirit, and of the joints and marrow." 



THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 99 

The soul is the life and the spirit is the in- 
tention. The Scriptures make a distinction 
between the gospel, which is the life of the 
Scriptures and the spirit or intention of other 
parts, some of which were written for different 
purposes. And a distinction should also be 
observed between the joint and marrow. For 
as it is possible to enter into life halt or 
maimed, rather than having two hands or two 
feet to be cast into hell fire. So, also, in the 
living body, a man may have his hand or foot 
severed from the body without the destruction 
of his life. But the destruction of the spinal 
marrow would cause death. The word quick 
means living, and the Scriptures observe the 
laws of animate nature. In inanimate na- 
ture, to which the principles of common 
algebra are adapted, the whole is equal to 
all the parts, and all the parts are equal 
to the whole. But in animate nature, to which 
the principles of scriptural algebra are 
adapted, the chief part is equal to the whole, 
and the whole is equal to the chief part. For, 
destroy the head, heart or spinal marrow in the 



100 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

human body, and the life of the body becomes 
extinct. So, also, the gospel bears the same 
relation to the rest of the Scriptures as the seat 
of life does in animate nature, that is take it 
away and life becomes extinct. 

I have proved or have it granted that the 
word Christ is equivalent to the Sun of right- 
eousness, or the sun itself, the phrase Word of 
God and the gospel. Therefore, they are sev- 
erally equivalent to each other ; according to 
the mathematical axiom, things which are 
equal to the same are equal to each other. 
And I have also shown that the gospel is 
equivalent to all the Scriptures, because all 
parts of the sacred writings are necessary to 
its development. Nor is the sun an unsuitable 
representative of the Scriptures of truth. For 
as the sun in the natural world is the source 
of light, heat, and vitality, so, also, the Scrip- 
tures or the gospel in the spiritual world is the 
source of light, life and the fervor of devotion. 
The fourth vial was, therefore, poured out upon 
the Scriptures. That is, their true interpreta- 
tion became corrupted ; for how could a degen- 



THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 101 

erate church receive unworthy members, and 
corrupt the ordinances of Christianity, and 
give their true interpretation in condemnation 
of their conduct. They must, therefore, invent 
false interpretations to justify themselves. 
According as it is written: "And even as they 
did not like to retain God in their knowledge, 
God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do 
those things which are not convenient." — Rom. 
i. 28. They must, therefore, invent false in- 
terpretations to justify themselves. And from 
these false interpretations sprang the inquisi- 
tion which persecuted with the sword and fagot, 
tortured them in dungeons, and burnt them at 
the stake. So, then, was the prophecy fulfilled 
that power was given unto the sun to scorch 
men with fire. 

Rev. xvi. 10, 11 : " And the fifth angel poured 
out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and 
his kingdom was full of darkness; and they 
gnawed their tongues for pain. And blas- 
phemed the God of heaven, because of their 
pains and their sores, and repented not of their 
deeds." 



102 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

The Mahometan power was raised up as a 
scourge of the kingdoms occupying the terri- 
tory which formerly belonged to the Roman 
empire in its brightest days of earthly glory. 
The conquests of the Saracens were limited on 
the west at the Pyrenees mountains by the 
successful valor of Charles Martel, a Christian 
warrior of distinction and renown. And their 
repeated attacks on Constantinople, on the 
east, were equally unsuccessful. This city was 
the capital of the eastern empire, which was 
under the jurisdiction of the Greek church. 
The northern part of Africa and the European 
dominions of Rome, the seven-hilled city, were 
the scenes of their devastations, pillage, and 
slaughter. They were, therefore, emphatically 
a scourge of those inhabiting the seat of the 
beast — the great red dragon, having seven 
heads and ten horns. But this providential 
chastisement of the Almighty failed to accom- 
plish its intended beneficial results. They did 
not renounce their cherished corruptions, and 
return to the true worship of God. 

Rev. xvi. 12, 13, 16 : "And the sixth angel 



THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 103 

poured out his vial upon the great river 
Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried 
up, that the way of the kings of the east might 
be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits 
like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, 
and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of 
the mouth of the false prophet. And he gath- 
ered them together into a place called in the 
Hebrew tongue Armageddon." 

The river Euphrates was the cause of the 
greatness of Imperial Babylon, because rivers 
have always been selected as eligible places 
near which to build large cities, and as Baby- 
lon represents the apostate church, as New 
Jerusalem does also the church of Christ, the 
sixth vial was, therefore, poured out upon that 
which constituted the greatness of the Apos- 
tate church. And what else constituted its 
greatness but the assumptions of divine au- 
thority ? Its false pretentions and assumptions 
were the object of God's displeasure and ven- 
geance. And in disturbing the blasphemous 
pretensions of this church, the way was pre- 
pared for the true interpretation of the Scrip- 



104 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

tures, and the reception of the true Messiah, 
whose original advent upon the earth was wel- 
comed by the wise men of the east, who 
adored him, and presented him with kingly 
gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But this 
introduction of a better era was not effected 
without violent opposition. The unreasonable 
sources of wrath were opposed against this 
reformation. 

That the way has been prepared by the 
pouring out of the sixth vial for the extension 
of the knowledge of the Scriptures among 
mankind may be seen from the following views 
of the interposition of Divine Providence 
among the nations of the earth. The war in 
China, in 1848, between the British and the 
Chinese governments, resulted favorably to the 
English, although the object of the Chinese, 
which was to suppress the ruinous sale and 
smuggling of opium, was justifiable. It may 
be that, in desiring to accomplish that object, 
they deviated from moderation and equity, yet 
their design was commendable. For it was 
exceedingly expensive as well as injurious to 



THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 105 

the health of the inhabitants. The result of 
this war was to continue the sale of opium as 
well as other commodities, and to open the 
ports of several cities to the commerce of 
Great Britain. The effect of this new settle- 
ment of the difficulties was to prepare the way 
for the greater diffusion of knowledge, and of 
the Christian religion into that extensive em- 
pire, which is supposed to contain about one- 
third of the population of the world. 

The late great rebellion in China, which had 
for its object the expulsion of the Tartar dy- 
nasty and the restoration of the native Chi- 
nese to power, had a tendency to open still 
wider the gates of the Celestial empire, as it 
is called, to the diffusion of knowledge, the 
extension of arts and commerce, and the spread 
of the gospel. So that such signal defeats and 
revolutions in the most populous empire in the 
world seem to be the work of God in prepar- 
ing the way for the spread of the gospel. So 
that good and wise men have not hesitated to 
attribute it to his beneficial work. 

A spiritual conflict is progressing on the 



106 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

earth for the extension of Christian knowledge 
and the means of grace among the inhabitants 
of the earth. And to make the termination 
of this conflict favorable to the reign of the 
Redeemer's kingdom, God has overruled, and 
still continues to overrule, the evil passions 
of men to accomplish his benevolent purposes 
among men. As another instance of the inter- 
position of Divine Providence in the affairs of 
men, and of his using their military prepara- 
tions to accomplish his own purposes, I might 
refer you to the present result and future pros- 
pects gained by the suppression of the late 
rebellion in our own country. The slave- 
holder's rebellion in the United States has had 
a tendency to elevate the African race in this 
country. It has abolished those local restric- 
tions in the slave states against the education 
of the negroes. And, although of itself it has 
not created schools nor supported teachers; 
yet it has prepared the way for all who are fa- 
vorably disposed to extend in that direction 
the sphere of their usefulness. But the influ- 
ence of the late civil war in America was not 



THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 107 

confined to the United States or even Europe; 
for this war affected the commerce and indus- 
try of the world The great demand for raw 
cotton stimulated the production of that com- 
modity in the distant provinces of the British 
in India. And the tendency of a greater social 
intercourse of the British with their Asiatic 
provinces, has been to elevate the moral and 
intellectual condition of the natives of that 
country. And the past and the present condi- 
tion of Mexico has a tendency to encourage 
Protestant emigration from the United States 
into Catholic Mexico. Many of these emigrants 
carry with them the leaven of Protestantism, 
which may eventually leaven the whole lump 
of the Mexican nation. 

Rev. xvi. 17 : "And the seventh angel poured 
out his vial into the air ; and there came a 
great voice out of the temple of heaven, from 
the throne, saying, it is done." 

Be v. xvi 18: "And there were voices, and 
thunders, and lightnings ; and there was a great 
earthquake, such as was not since men were 



108 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and 
so great." 

The sixth vial portrayed national calamities, 
in which individuals suffered but only as com- 
ponent parts of the nations. The seventh 
vial portrays individual calamities directly of 
a moral and intellectual kind, and indirectly 
attended with the loss of pecuniary honors and 
emoluments. The seventh vial may be said 
figuratively to create an overseer over all the 
channels of the communication of ideas. 
Whatever is in accordance with the Word of 
God will become honorable and approved. 
And whatever shall not be in accordance there- 
with shall be held in contempt and derision. 
And then will be speedily carried out the dec- 
laration : " He that honoreth me will I honor, 
and he that despiseth me shall be lightly es- 
teemed." And this supervision shall extend to 
all the intellectual labors of the human race 
without regard to the intentions of individuals, 
and be directed by the infallible decisions of 
the divine mind. The interpretation of the 
Scriptures will be reduced to a mathematical 



THE LAST SEVEN PLAGUES. 109 

certainty. Intellectual giants will appear and 
carry the banner of inspiration from one vic- 
tory to another, until every thing in science 
and philosophy incompatible with the Word 
of God will be routed and scouted from re- 
spectable society. 

"And the seventh angel poured out his vial 
into the air." Wind in the natural world is air 
put in motion. Wind or air puffeth up ; as we 
can fill bladders with wind or air. It is also 
recorded in 1 Cor. viii. 1 : " Knowledge puffeth 
up," which, of course, must be understood to 
refer to false knowledge, or as it is otherwise 
described by the apostle Paul as philosophy 
falsely so called: "Beware lest any man spoil 
you through philosophy and vain deceit." — Col. 
ii. 8. The conclusion of the matter is this, that 
air in the natural world is the gospel equiva- 
lent for false philosophy in the moral and in- 
tellectual world. And the seventh vial of God's 
wrath is poured out into the air when it is 
poured out upon false philosophy. But it may 
be said, how can that be a plague which must 
inevitably be a general blessing to the church 



110 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

and the world. To this it is replied that a par- 
tial evil may be a general good. So, also, it is 
written in 1 Cor. iii. 12, 15 : " Now if any man 
build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious 
stones, wood, hay, stubble. If any man's work 
shall be burned, he shall suffer loss." The in- 
terpretation of the prophecy relating to the 
outpouring of the seventh vial makes that 
event almost entirely, yet in the future. And 
consequently it can be proved only by the tes- 
mony of one witness, namely, the book of in- 
spiration. I shall not, therefore, pretend that 
this vial can now be fully explained in all its 
minute details. This I have not even attempted 
to do in interpreting the six which are already 
or almost entirely past For this simple rea- 
son, that the time allotted to one individual, 
burdened with domestic cares, and deprived 
of many facilities of investigation are too 
brief for so stupendous a task. I have, there- 
fore, come to a conclusion of the subject, and 
submit the matter for the candid consideration 
of the religious world. 



CONCLUSION. Ill 



CONCLUSION. 

I have completed the present writing on the 
last seven plagues. The subject is not ex- 
hausted, nor are all the difficulties overcome. 
For it is written in Eev. xv. 8: "And the tem- 
ple was filled with smoke from the glory of 
God, and from his power; and no man was able 
to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of 
the seven angels were fulfilled." It should be 
noticed that the text does not say no man was 
able to see into the temple, but that no man 
was able to enter there. But it may not be 
amiss to inquire what is meant by the word 
temple. The Jewish temple was the local hab- 
itation of the Deity. Christ compared his 
body to the Jewish temple, when he said, 
"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will 



112 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

rear it again." It is, therefore, a gospel equiv- 
alent by comparison. But Christ is called the 
Word of God, which also means the Scriptures 
of truth. As the temple is the equivalent for 
Christ, which is also the equivalent for the 
Word of God, temple and Word of God must 
be equivalent. For things that are equal to 
the same are equal to each other. 

Although it is not possible now to enter the 
temple of truth or fully understand all the 
prophecies of Scripture, because the seventh 
vial is not fully poured out, yet, at the com- 
mencement of the outpouring of that vial, the 
smoke begins to disappear from the temple, 
and we are able to see into it. As Moses, the 
servant of God, could see the promised land 
of Canaan, although he was not permitted to 
enter therein. Especially is this the case in 
this instance, because it is also written in Rev. 
x, 7 : " But in the days of the days of the voice 
of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to 
sound, the mystery of God should be finished as 
he has declared to his servants the prophets." 
By this last prophecy, I understand that all ob- 



CONCLUSION. 113 

stacles heretofore placed in the way of a proper 
understanding or elucidation of the subject 
will be removed by the interposition of Divine 
Providence. And the subject thereafter will 
yield to human investigation and persevering 
study. I do not expect, under the most favor- 
able circumstances, to be able to fathom all 
the mysteries of the Apocalypse. In his own 
suitable time, the Lord will raise up the proper 
men to accomplish that work. But what I do 
expect to accomplish is to show to the world 
that it is possible to explain that book in a 
consistent, intelligible, and reliable manner, to 
the understandings of all men, whether learned 
or unlearned. 

Nor do I expect to accomplish this without 
divine assistance. For God has reserved the 
honor of that discovery to himself. The battle 
is not to the strong, nor the revelation to the 
most profound in biblical attainments. Ac- 
cording as it is written in Matt. xi. 25, 26 : "I 
thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and 
earth, because thou hast hid these things from 
the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them 



114 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

unto babes. Even so, Father ; for so it seemed 
good in thy sight." Accordingly, the primary 
cause of all my efforts in studying, speaking, 
and writing on the book of Revelation was the 
following dream. I dreamed that I was in the 
New Jerusalem. That I was disappointed in 
finding it an earthly city instead of a heavenly 
one. That I was in a room of a house of an 
ordinary appearance in which I saw men and 
women dressed differently. That I noticed one 
woman in particular who was dressed in a 
common calico dress, having a pale counte- 
nance. That I asked why she looked so pale, 
and was informed the reason was that she 
might be known. And that I saw in the room 
a barrel resembling a flour barrel about half 
full of fruit, about the size of a large peach or 
a small apple as bright as gold. Then I awoke 
and found it was a dream. The subject, I 
doubt not, will meet the scrutiny of the learned 
and unlearned. For God's mysterious provi- 
dence hovers over my path, making me willing, 
in the day of his power, to risk the necessary 
pecuniary means, and to forego the ease and 



CONCLUSION. 115 

comforts of home, in order to spread a knowl- 
edge of my investigations among the hovels 
of the poor, and the mansions of the wise and 
great. The sympathy of mankind will be ex- 
cited in my behalf, and cause them to buy the 
book from motives of humanity as well as 
from a sense of religious duty. And when the 
end designed is accomplished, I trust the af- 
fliction will be removed, and we will all rejoice 
in the mercy as we now grieve under the power 
of God. 

Some may scoff at the idea of the interpo- 
sition of Divine Providence in this age of the 
world, and suppose that such interpositions 
were confined to the Jews, the chosen people 
of God in the Old Testament dispensation, and 
to the apostles and evangelists of the New. 
They may obliterate from their own memories, 
but they can not blot out from the pages of 
history the record of such interpositions. The 
history of Cyrus the Great is recorded by 
Heroditus and Justin, as well as by the words 
of inspiration. The dream of his grandfather 
Astyages, its interpretation by the wise men 



116 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

of that time, and the means used to defeat it, 
are all a matter of history. The dream, ac- 
cording to the interpretation of the wise men, 
predicted the birth of a grandson, who would 
dethrone his grandfather, and conquer all 
Asia. Astyages took measures to defeat this 
catastrophy, by even plotting the exposure of 
the child to a cruel death. But the devices 
of men proved unavailing, and, in the hands 
of God, the means of its fulfillment. So, also, 
Alexander the Great was inspired with his ex- 
traordinary courage, perseverance, and un- 
bounded ambition, by a dream inviting him to 
come over and conquer Asia. And when the 
Jewish high priest met him with a supplicating 
train beseeching his clemency and forbearance, 
the great conqueror acknowledged the fulfill- 
ment of the dream, and conferred upon the sup- 
pliants the blessings they sought. Need I 
add that Julius Caesar and Bonaparte also be- 
lieved in a Divine Providence, or predeter- 
mined destiny. If such men as these were 
raised up to accomplish some purposes pre- 
dicted in the divine record, is it absurd to sup- 



CONCLUSION. 117 

pose that the prophecies relating to the Mil- 
lennium will not be fulfilled by the interposi- 
tion of Divine Providence in the affairs of men. 
I trust there will be few intelligent Christians 
willing to controvert this position. 

And the question only remains whether the 
means proposed are adequate to so stupendous 
a task as the unfolding the mysteries of the 
Apocalypse, or ushering in the light which 
shall illuminate the world in the Millennial 
day. 

The author of this book contends that the 
science of scriptural algebra, when fully and 
universally understood, is competent to the 
task. He has given practical examples of the 
solution of some problems by means of this 
science, without explaining those principles in 
a formal manner. Necessity required this 
method in order to be understood. 

The principle of the substitution of equiva- 
lents is so obvious that many suppose they 
have always practiced it. Perhaps such per- 
sons do not know the trials and experiments 
which the author has used to come at these 



118 ANOTHER WONDER IN HEAVEN. 

conclusions. The principles of a science are 
often learned as well by trying examples in 
which the solution is not solved, as in those 
which are. It is reserved for another occasion, 
and the publication of another book, to treat 
the subject in a more formal and scientific man- 
ner. Perhaps, on the examination of some of 
the curious results of this science, some people 
might be better prepared to judge whether 
they have always practiced these principles in 
exactly the same manner. 

But I will bring my book to a close by an- 
swering one objection, which, I suppose, will 
be asked. If the principle of the substitution 
of equivalents is so obvious as to appear al- 
most inherent in the human mind, how has it 
happened that the extension and scientific ar- 
rangement of this principle should have been 
overlooked. It can only be accounted for on 
the supposition that God ordained it so to be. 
According to the declaration of inspiration 
recorded in Rev. x. 1: "And I saw another 
mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed 
with a cloud." And this prophecy of the vision 



CONCLUSION. 119 

of John was fulfilled by those changes and 
obliterations of the learning of antiquity when 
those libraries, which contained the scientific 
attainments of the ancient nations of the world, 
were destroyed by fire, during the wars of the 
barbarians and Saracens with the civilized 
world. Thus verifying the declaration, he doeth 
his will among the armies of heaven, and 
among the inhabitants of the earth. 



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